Today, his trial before Dublin’s Central Criminal Court heard evidence from Dr Niamh McCullagh, an experienced forensic archeologist who was among the first to discover the remains of Tina Satchwell under the stairwell of the home, wrapped in black plastic sheeting - after a hand was exposed.
The court heard from her own research that victims are often disposed of within one kilometre of their home - and in their home address in the majority of domestic homicide cases.
She told the court under cross examination from Brendan Grehan SC that the number one hypothesis she had come to was that “Tina Satchwell was killed in her home address and concealed in her home address.”
Her other options were that Ms Satchwell was killed at home but her remains were broken down and disposed of over time - or that she was killed in her home but her body was moved in its entirety.
The court heard she based these findings on evidence provided to her by gardai on a USB stick of “structural changes to the house,” a photo of a bucket containing some rubble and a statement from the 2017 search of a “wheelie bin full of stones.”
She agreed with Mr Grehan that it was most likely in her findings that “Tina never left her home alive.”
The Dr told the court that on the basis of her findings, she recommended that gardai carry out a “systematic invasive search” of the Satchwell home in an attempt to find the remains.
She cited in her report recent plasterboard work in the home, stonework, the stairs and extension to the rear of the property that ought to be searched.
On October 10, 2023, Dr McCullagh entered the property on Grattan Street and led a search that she said was first designed to be the least intrusive before resorting to more intrusive methods.
The house, she said, was divided into ten search zones - the first being the upstairs of the property - and the 10th being outside where an extension of the property was earmarked to be demolished.
She had advised the use of a Cadaver dog, searching for blood and then ground radar and metal detection of the scene. The court heard that the Cadaver dog named Fern indicated in an area near the stairs which then alerted gardai to direct the search there.
Dr McCullagh told the court she was informed by Detective Garda Brian Barry of the discovery of black plastic sheeting in a hole under the stairs - and she came to assist in the excavation on the evening of the 11th.
Dr McCullagh and her colleague identified a cut into the natural order of soil, and approximately 64cm down found a piece of plastic with a best before date of March 3rd, 2017 on it. She and her colleague then saw what appeared to be a hand, a “human bone,” located around black plastic.
The remains were covered and the scene was preserved until the following morning of October 12. The red brick wall at the stairs was removed at Dr McCullagh’s direction in order for her and other excavators to have better access as they continued to dig, the court heard.
The jury were shown several photos of the grave and the remains inside black plastic sheeting as Dr McCullagh led the court through describing the length and depth of the area and a “stone slab” that was over the body.
The decomposed remains of Tina Satchwell were inside the black plastic which was under the body and folded over the top of it, she said.
The decision was made to remove the remains at 3:08pm - and they were placed inside a body bag with the black plastic still over them.
Retired Detective Sergeant Shane Curran, who the court heard was the Crime Scene Manager overseeing the search, described how he liaised with the divisional search team, a dog handler and a forensic anthropologist at the scene.
His colleague, Detective Garda Brian Barry, he said, was the officer who “basically located an area under the stairs where concrete was different to the surrounding areas where original concrete had been laid."
Mr Curran said the concrete was broken by contracted builders at the direction of gardai and that Det Gda Barry informed him that he subsequently found some black plastic which he thought was “very, very important” at around 7 or 8pm.
He was present for the excavation, he said and on the following day observed a red brick wall partition being removed to allow there to be better access for forensic archaeologists and contractors to dig.
Describing the “clandestine” grave as “quite deep,” Mr Curran said the body of a female was discovered inside - approximately 84cm in depth to the base.
The body was removed, he said on the 12th and taken to Cork University Hospital where a post mortem examination, conducted by State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster and concluded on Friday October 13.
Describing the excavation that took place as “complex enough,” Mr Curran confirmed under cross examination from Defence Counsel Brendan Grehan SC that the Bureau was prepared for a search for several weeks.
He said that metal detection equipment and ground penetrating radar were used in the searches and the object of the search was to be the “least invasive” at the start - in order not to damage anything.
He confirmed to Mr Grehan that the initial plan was to take down walls and to demolish an extension at the back of the house where the ground underneath was going to be checked. This planned excavation work ultimately did not take place after Det Barry made the discovery under the stairs, the court heard.
A cadaver dog named Fern was present during the search, he said and the dog first took “significant interest” in the lower steps and the right hand side of the sitting room where a door went into the kitchen.
The dog did not detect human remains at that stage but later did when he asked for it to return - after Det Barry had discovered the black plastic.
Detective Garda Brian Barry, who the court heard had been attached to the Ballistics and Forensic division for 25 years, said he first entered the Satchwell home on Grattan Street on Tuesday October 10.
He told the court that the house was in “quite an untidy state,” and described how there was a cement mixer and a large couch placed up against a red brick wall at the stairs. On October 11 he continued his search throughout the house, “looking for the deceased,” and started his search in the upstairs of the property, the court heard.
He told the court that he was chatting with the building contractors in the living room of the home when he decided to look under the stairs. Detective Barry said that while they were chatting he was looking at the red brick wall and noticed it was built “pretty poorly.” He said the mortar had dripped and it was “kind of suspicious.”
The dog Fern, which had not at this stage indicated human remains but had indicated in that area, also piqued his suspicion. He had a look with lighting, he said and “spotted this new concrete.”
The contractors, who had special equipment, then broke that concrete after he had informed Sgt Curran and was told to go ahead, the court heard. "I could see a different colour concrete...which was very suspicious to me, which was unusual. I certainly took an interest in this,” he told the court.
They dug until the black plastic was exposed, he said - describing how it was “quite deep,” “unusual” and approximately 64cm or two feet down. "When I found the black plastic this was very very significant. "I didn't go any further at this stage,” he told the court.
The witness told the court that the forensic archaeologist later continued the excavation until they exposed "I believe it was a hand." He was asked in cross examination if it was obvious to him that it was a hand, to which he said that it was.
The Detective told the court that he subsequently assisted in “in lifting the deceased out of this clandestine grave." He further confirmed that a bit of plastic was also discovered among the soil with a best before date on it. He described how it was like something from the top of a loaf of bread or a “seal.”
Laptops and a Samsung phone were also seized by this Garda who handed them to an exhibits officer, the court heard. The court also heard from Detective Garda Karen McCarthy, who took samples from the body of Tina Satchwell at Cork University Hospital while the post mortem was taking place.
Det Gda McCarthy confirmed to Prosecuting Counsel Gerardine Small SC a photo of a dressing gown that the court heard was on the body of Ms Satchwell. The remains were wrapped in a blanket in the black plastic sheeting, she said.
She further confirmed a photo of a purse that was discovered inside the left hand pocket of the dressing gown. The purse contained a public service card in Tina Satchwell’s name, a Holland and Barrett reward card, an XtraVision membership card, a Rathcormac car boot sale ID, a Tesco clubcard that said T Satchwell and a Boots card.
The Detective told the court that she took DNA samples from Ms Satchwell from her head hair and a toenail. She further stated that she took small “shards of glass” from Ms Satchwell’s head and her arm.
The trial continues.
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